UNICEF provides psychosocial support to adolescents and their parents during COVID-19 pandemic in Georgia

TBILISI, June 30, 2020. More than 6000 adolescents and 2000 parents will benefit from a new initiative led by UNICEF Georgia in partnership with “Global Initiative on Psychiatry” to prevent, identify and address mental health and psycho-social consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic among adolescents and their parents in Georgia.

The programme will introduce on-line sessions for adolescents on psychosocial and emotional stability, stress management, behavioural disorders, etc. It will also help parents and caregivers to cope with the challenges they may have with their adolescent children in a positive way.

"We do hope that the services established within this initiative will build the foundation for long-term mental and psychosocial support programmes for adolescents and their parents in Georgia" - Ghassan Khalil

“Adolescents and young people are most at-risk to develop mental health and psychosocial problems in the present crisis”, says Dr. Ghassan Khalil, UNICEF Representative in Georgia. “Fear and anxiety about the virus are compounded by being away from schools, peers, adjusting to new ways of learning and communication with parents and friends. It is crucial to launch specific mental health services tailored to young people. We do hope that the services established within this initiative will build the foundation for a long-term mental and psychosocial support programmes for adolescents and their parents in Georgia”, Khalil added.

The project will raise awareness of adolescents from 14 to 18 years old in Tbilisi, Gori and Adjara region. It will also support parents in effective communication with adolescents through a "positive parenting" programme. Psychosocial services will be launched for adolescents in Tbilisi and Batumi by providing distant counselling and psychosocial first aid.

The project will last until the end of 2020.